Lie To Me, page 6
seven
When August rolled around she was developing a small bump but she could hide it. It was really easy to hide with a larger shirt. She was greeted at the airport by her sister. Megan hugged her tight and then rubbed her belly.
“You have a little bump.” Megan said as she rolled Marley’s case behind them. Marley held her purse over her middle. She did not want her sister bringing attention to her condition.
“How have things been?” Marley asked as the car entered traffic. Her sister was an aggressive driver and succumbed to road rage on occasion.
“It took me a few weeks to get them back to my lazy way of doing things. Did you have to be so you?” Megan asked as the car rolled to a stop at a red light.
“Sorry.” Marley said, but they both knew she was not.
“Tuttle will only use his promotion cup now.” That made Marley smile. She wondered if that blue and black shirt was worn out yet.
“Which hotel did you get for me?” Marley asked she could really use a nap. Megan did not answer immediately and that gave her cause for alarm.
“Well.” Megan started before she made the turn onto the road that led to Long Creek Ranch.
“Megan?” Something told her she was not going to like her sister’s answer.
“I told Griffin that I was going to get you a hotel room and he insisted that I put you in a guest room at the ranch.” That made her mad.
“It is not his choice where I stay.” Marley stated and felt the anger boil inside of her. These people were going to make her deal with a man she did not want to see.
“He is different, Marley.” Megan stated like that made any bit of difference to her.
“I could care less, Megan, I asked you to get me a hotel room.” The anger was clear in her tone.
“I know, Marley, but it made sense to have you at the ranch. I get to spend more time with you.” There was a softening to her anger with those words, but she was still upset. They could not just make decisions for her and expect her to accept them. Well not quietly anyway.
“He is busier now anyway with Eli out of school for the summer. You probably wont even run into him.” That did not help. She was not going to just allow them to use her again. She had already been the last laugh once and she was not going to let that happen again. Well that was not fair, her sister had nothing to do with what Griffin had done.
“Eli is super excited about his party. But I think he is more excited about your grilled cheese.” The ranch came into view and she saw the extra vehicles out front. The Mercedes she knew was Tuttle’s, but the truck was one she did not remember. Megan pulled the car into the garage and killed the engine.
“Griffin’s dad spends a lot of time here with Eli. He is eager to meet you again and find one difference between us.” Megan stated as she got Marley’s luggage from the trunk. Marley heard a vehicle approaching and turned to see Griffin pulling in.
She made her way into the house, not ready to face him yet. Eli and the other two men were seated at the kitchen table when Marley entered.
“Did you get her?” Eli asked and she smiled at him. When Megan entered he looked from one to the other. Megan made her way through the kitchen to stand next to Marley. The three males stared at them. There was really no way to tell them apart. Even their clothes were nothing special. Both of them wore a t-shirt and jeans. Marley’s shirt was a bit bigger than needed but that would not even help to tell them apart.
“My God.” The elder gentleman at the table stated his eyes dancing between the two. “You said identical but you two are mirror image.” Marley smiled at that. It did not make her uncomfortable to be scrutinized in such a way. It was just part of who they were.
“How on earth did you figure it out?” Tuttle asked and she knew he was talking to Griffin. Marley did not have to turn to know that the man was in the room. Every nerve ending in her body had jumped to life the minute he entered.
“I saw Marley’s planner on the table and knew that our Megan was not that organized.” That was one answer that she now had.
It had never occurred to her that he might have seen that. She had only left it unattended long enough to put Megan’s laundry away. Obviously it had been long enough for him to see it.
“Can you make me a grilled cheese?” Eli asked and she smiled at him. “Please.” He added and she wondered if that was something that Megan had told him to do. She was all about manners and being respectful.
“Let her get settled in, Eli, and then you can ask her again.” Griffin took the luggage from Megan and started for the hall.
“I would like to talk to you.” He said to Marley as he passed her. Smiling at the others she followed him down the hall. She did not miss the fact that he passed up the guest bedroom near Megan’s room. Instead he led her to the one closest to his room. You can do this she told herself. Yet her stomach was alive with the fluttering of a million butterflies. Inside the room he lifted the case and placed it on the bed.
“I treated you unfairly and I am sorry. I was upset that you of all people lied to me.” Marley was not sure what he meant by that. Of all people, those words were so confusing to her.
“Don’t worry about it.” She had spent enough time of her own worrying about it for the both of them.
“So you just want to go on like nothing happened?” She wished he was more expressive. At the moment he was so blank, not one ounce of emotion on his handsome face.
“We had an affair, Griffin.” Maybe she should have made a list of answers to his questions.
“It was more than that and you know it.” His words caused all of those memories to stir up. How could he touch her like that, and not even touch her? Shaking her head she tried to smile at him. It would not stay on her lips. Now would be the time to tell him of the result of that affair. That way he would not be able to say she had lied to him. Something told her that it would be the final turn of the lock on her heart. She drew a deep breath in her lungs and met his eyes. Would her baby have those beautiful color eyes?
“I am pregnant.” Nothing moved, it seemed even time froze. The man stood like a statue not moving. She could not tell if he was breathing. There was no movement at all in that room. Locked in that eye contact she waited. She wondered what he was thinking. When his eyes closed she felt her heart sink. His lips pursed and his head lowered to face the floor. She could no longer see his face, but it had not mattered anyway. The man was not going to show any emotion. He was the master at keeping his feelings hidden. Then he looked up at her shook his head and left the room. She could not believe that he had just walked out like that. Well she had delivered quite the shock to him. Maybe he just needed some time to absorb it all.
Marley stayed in that room for several hours, she was not ready to face them. A light knock had her turning from the window to the door. Griffin opened the door but did not enter.
“We are not going to discuss this with Eli until we have had the chance to really talk.” Marley simply nodded at his words. Would it be rude to tell him that she did not want to tell Eli at all? There was something about telling it all that made her uncomfortable. Griffin closed the door and was gone. Five minutes later another knock sounded on the door. She thought it was Griffin coming back to have that talk.
“Come in.” She called when the door did not open. Eli came into the room and stared at her. The action made her smile.
“How am I going to be able to tell y’all apart?” Eli asked as Megan entered the room.
“I am the smart one.” Megan offered as she ruffled his hair. He took the attention with a half smile.
“She is a lawyer.” Eli said pointing to Marley. “Can one of you wear a bracelet or a necklace or something?” Eli added as he made his way to climb up on the bed.
“I wear a watch.” Marley stated holding up her wrist to show him the smart watch she wore.
“She does too.” Eli said and Megan held up her wrist. They had the same watch. That was not something that she had noticed before.
“I wont ruffle your hair.” Marley offered because that was something that she felt she would never be able to do. It was a very personal act to her. Something reserved for a parent or guardian.
“That might help, but I don’t want you doing it all the time either.” He said to Megan. Megan stuck out her tongue at him and he returned the gesture.
“Is that any way to act in the presence of ladies?” Griffin asked as he came into the bedroom. Before long the whole family was going to be in there.
“She started it.” Eli said in defense.
“She did.” Marley admitted and stuck her tongue out at her sister. This caused Eli to laugh.
“How can you tell them apart, Dad?” Eli asked as he stood and faced his father.
“If they were dressed alike I might have a problem.” Marley really wanted to hear his answer. She did not want to believe that he might make some moves toward her sister. It would not really be his fault if he did, but she wanted to believe that he could tell them apart.
“I can’t tell which is which.” Eli said as he looked between the two of them.
“We need to get something to eat.” Griffin said to Eli. Marley wanted to hear his answer but he was not going to give it now.
“Can you two come with us?” Eli asked and Megan nodded before looking to Marley. She smiled at them and nodded as well. This was going to be interesting.
Megan climbed into the back seat with Eli, which put Marley up front. A place she was not really comfortable being. The seat was large enough to hold three people so she was not sure what bothered her.
“Slide over.” Griffin told her as she saw his father coming out of the house. Marley watched as he made his way to the truck and opened the door beside of her.
“I can ride in the back.” She offered not wanting to close the distance between them.
“Slide over.” Griffin said again and she did as she was told. The older man got in and sat next to her.
“I do not think we have been properly introduced. I am Pop.” He said holding out his hand. Marley took it and shook it.
“Marley.” She said as Griffin put his truck in drive. She saw Tuttle wave at them as he got in his own car.
“So which one is older?” Pop asked as the truck left the driveway and merged onto the highway.
“I am.” Megan stated. “By a whole two minutes.” That was the truth so Marley said nothing. There was not much to add to that anyway.
“Did your parents have other children?” Pop asked as Griffin slowed the truck behind a much larger truck hauling hay.
“No, Megan was too much for them.” Her mother often joked that Megan would have been an only child, if they hadn’t been twins.
“Where are your parents?” Pop asked and she wondered why Megan had never had this discussion with any of them.
“My father spent his life in the military. We traveled a lot as children. He is retired now, but can’t stay in one place for very long. I think they are in Europe this week.” Or maybe they had been in Europe last week. Well it did not matter anyway, they were off seeing the world somewhere. Griffin pulled the truck into the parking lot of a diner. Marley had never been in it before. During her short stay in Long Creek she had rarely left the ranch. Pop held the door for her as she slid down out of the front seat. Megan, Pop, and Eli all entered together. Griffin held her wrist to keep her from following them inside.
“My dad can ask a lot of questions, you do not have to answer any of them that you don’t want to.” Griffin said his face very close to hers. She wondered why he thought she needed this talk.
“I am good.” She admitted because she was not bothered by Pop at all. The man was very easy to be around.
“Will you answer my questions?” Griffin asked and she really wished she had been more prepared for this.
“Yes.” She admitted because there was only one subject that she thought he could have questions about.
“Tonight when we get back I want you to walk with me to the barn.” Marley nodded at him because she was not sure what to say to that. He released her wrist and she moved to join the others who were already being seated. The only places left to sit in the large round booth were right next to one another. Marley tried to ignore the feel of Griffin’s thigh on hers but it was not working. It did not help that he continued to move his leg against hers. She did not think that he was doing it on purpose but she could not be sure. They all ordered a drink and the waitress was looking at her.
“She wants water.” Griffin said not looking away from the waitress. Marley looked at him not sure what to say. She could very well order her own water. Pop did not miss any of the looks she thought as she met his gaze. He smiled at her.
“Eli, why don’t you and Megan go play some songs on the old juke box?” Pop suggested as he fished some money out of his pocket.
“Thanks.” Eli said as he took it and practically pushed Megan out of the seat. Marley watched as they walked away.
“What is going on?” Pop asked looking first at Griffin and then to her.
“Nothing.” Griffin said and she wondered if he thought of that as a lie. Or maybe that was what he believed.
“That’s bull and you know it. There has been a tension between the two of you since she came through the door.” Marley was not sure what to say to Pop. The truth was the easiest answer but that would only create a million more questions. Questions that she did not have the answer too.
“There was something between us.” Griffin said as he looked pointedly at her. She did not like the way he said that. Shaking her head she looked to Pop.
“And now I am pregnant.” There that served him right for making the previous comment. Pop’s eyes went wide and then slowly came back to normal.
“Congratulations?” Pop said the word was loaded with questions.
“I said we were not going to discuss this.” Griffin reminded her.
“You said with Eli.” She reminded him right back. Pop said quietly but neither one of them paid him any attention.
“I am not sure it is mine.” Griffin said to Pop. That took all of the wind out of her sails. Lowering her face to look at the table she took several deep breaths.
“I am.” She head Pop say but she did not look up to face him. How could he say such a thing? He knew that she was a virgin before him. Maybe he thought she had gotten pregnant after she had returned home. Well if he did not want anything to do with the baby then she was fine with that. She had already decided to raise the baby alone.
The waitress was back with the drinks. Marley took a sip and swallowed hoping it would move the lump in her throat. When Megan and Eli returned she had herself as much back to normal as she could manage. The topic changed to kid friendly subjects and she was glad. The whole ordeal was more than she was prepared to deal with. When they all got back to the truck she made it a point to climb in the back seat with Eli and Megan. She did not want to be close to him at the moment. Even though she was prepared to raise this baby all alone, she was not ready for him to disown it. That thought made her very sad. Her whole life she had both of her parents to turn to. Well she was not going to think about that much. If he still wanted to talk to her that would be fine, if not, well she was tired and could go straight to bed.
Pop hugged every one of them. She watched as Megan and Eli made their way into the house, Pop then hugged Griffin and he followed the others. Marley was left with Pop outside alone.
“He can be an ass sometimes.” Pop said as he hugged Marley to his chest. “So if it gets to be too much have Megan call me and I will come and get you.” She did not know how long he thought she was going to be there.
“Thank you.” Marley said as she stepped back from him. He did not release her arms. She waited as he studied her face.
“Not one bit of difference.” He said shaking his head with a smile, before he released her and walked to his own truck. Marley waved as he drove away. Before she could make it inside Griffin was coming out and walking her way.
“That was not the way I wanted to tell him.” Griffin said as he reached for her hand and pulled her behind him. She had to practically jog to keep up with his long quick strides.
“Sorry.” Marley said to his back but she did not mean it. It had been partly his fault for that rude comment he had made. Shocked or not that was uncalled for.
“Can you slow down?” Marley asked as she pulled on her hand, she was not able to get him to release it. Griffin did slow down a little. Marley was glad that she was not being drug behind him anymore. Now she was walking as normal as possible. The barn came into view and she tried to take it all in. There was a two person wooden swing and he moved her in that direction.
“Do you think we should get married?” Griffin asked as he stopped at the swing. She pulled her hand out of his.
